PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Toshiro Mifuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mifuma
vs
Sanchez

176 cm
20
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toshiro Mifuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keith Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez connects with a nice looking jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sanchez.

Sanchez decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Mifuma has managed to clinch.
Mifuma keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanchez's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Sanchez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mifuma fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sanchez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sanchez wants to break free but Mifuma has control.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but Mifuma keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez is trying to force a seperation but Mifuma has the dominant position.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Mifuma tries to pull guard but Sanchez holds him up against the cage and eventually Mifuma drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanchez tries to break the clinch but Mifuma is controlling the position.
Mifuma drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toshiro Mifuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mifuma is trying to improve his position.

Sanchez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mifuma tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mifuma gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sanchez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mifuma's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mifuma is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez wants to get up but he can't break Mifuma's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mifuma trying to control the position.
Sanchez wants to stand but Mifuma is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sanchez looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez misses with a double jab.
Sanchez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sanchez scores a takedown into full mount!
Sanchez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but Mifuma is holding on tight.

Sanchez get's back to his feet.
Mifuma doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mifuma tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Sanchez dominated that round.
That's time! Mifuma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanchez swinging wildly here.

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mifuma sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Sanchez decides to return to a standing position.
Sanchez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mifuma doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sanchez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to stand but Mifuma is controlling from the bottom.

Mifuma throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mifuma's guard.

Mifuma is looking for a triangle but Sanchez pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to stand but Mifuma is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mifuma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mifuma is trying to keep Sanchez in close.

Sanchez gets to his feet. Mifuma looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mifuma slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.

Sanchez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mifuma sprawls well initially but Sanchez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sanchez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Mifuma manages to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Mifuma won't let him.
Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Mifuma won't let him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mifuma wants to clinch.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mifuma's guard.

Sanchez gets to his feet. Mifuma looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sanchez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mifuma to the mat! Mifuma manages to get full guard.
Sanchez postures up.

Sanchez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mifuma, up you get!

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mifuma!
Keith Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sanchez gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Mifuma slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Mifuma moves out of range.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Mifuma had control of the position.
Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Mifuma won't let him.
Mifuma working a defensive guard here.

Sanchez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mifuma, up you get!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mifuma gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sanchez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mifuma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Mifuma avoids nicely.
Sanchez looks to land a combination but Mifuma avoids it well.

Sanchez scores with a takedown into Mifuma's guard.
Sanchez tries to stand but Mifuma is controlling from the bottom.
Mifuma trying to control the position.
Sanchez wants to stand but Mifuma has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanchez stands and steps away. Mifuma gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mifuma doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.

Sanchez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mifuma trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Mifuma won't let him.
Mifuma controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.

Sanchez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mifuma slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to bum rush Mifuma with a series of wild strikes but Mifuma uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sanchez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mifuma looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sanchez wants to stand but Mifuma has his arm trapped.
Sanchez wants to stand but Mifuma has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mifuma controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.

Mifuma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanchez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown.
Keith Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez scores with a takedown into Mifuma's guard.
Mifuma controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.
Sanchez wants to get up but he can't break Mifuma's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mifuma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanchez stands up from Mifuma's guard - Sanchez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mifuma napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Sanchez decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mifuma misses with a takedown attempt

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mifuma has a closed guard, preventing Sanchez from standing up.

Sanchez gets to his feet. Mifuma looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mifuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A left and a right from Sanchez both land. Nice combination.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez wants to stand but Mifuma has his arm trapped.
Mifuma is trying to control Sanchez's posture but Sanchez avoids it.
Toshiro Mifuma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mifuma is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sanchez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Sanchez!